Lubricating system



S. KRIZMAN LUBRICATING SYSTEM l Nov. 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledNov. l0, 1960 FIG. 2

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INVENTOR. STEVE KRIZMAN BY Wzdy/ ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1961 s. KRlzMANLUBRICATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. lO, 1960 FIG.3

1N VENTOR.

STEVE KRIZMAN BY v a 4m/J ATTORNEY United States tion of Indiana FiledNov. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 68,550

7 Claims. (Cl. 184-6) 'I'he present invention relates to a lubricatingsystem for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to alubricating system for the rocker arm assemblies of internal combustionengines hawng overhead valves.

In conventional internal combustion engines for automobiles and trucks,the lubricating system includes a series of long, circuitously arrangedoil passages of small diameter extending from the oil pump through theengine block and cylinder head into supports and shafts for the rockerarms. The oil underpressure passes upwardly through these passages androcker arm shaft, and is discharged through ports into the rocker armbearings, and thence onto the bearing connections between the rocker armand push rod on one side and valve stem on the other side. An oil outletconduit is usually provided for circulating excess oil through therocker arm shaft back to the oil pan. The moving parts of the rocker armassemblies are thoroughly and constantly lubricated by the foregoingconventional system as long as this system is functioning properly;however, during the operation of the engine over a period of time,sludge accumulates in the lubricating system, and/or the cam bearings inthe block through which the oil passes before reaching the cylinder headbecome turned, thereby blocking or seriously restricting the flow of oilto the rocker arms. Consequently, the rocker arms and associated partsreceiving their lubrication through the rocker arm assemblies becomenoisy and operate inefliciently or become cornpletely inoperable andoften corroded from moisture condensation, requiring expensiveoverhauling of the engine and replacement of a number of parts of the4rocker arm assemblies. In view of the diiculty and expense of un-`blocking and cleaning the lubricating system, often requiring a majoroverhauling operation in itself, the system is often neglected untilirreparable damage has been done lto the rocker arm assemblies. It istherefore one of the principal objects of the present invention toprovide an auxiliary lubricating system for supplementing, or in effectreplacing, the conventional lubricating system for the rocker armassemblies, which can be installed on the engine with a minimum amountof labor and with only a `relatively few simple replacement parts, andwhich will effectively lubricate the assemblies using the originalpassages and -ports through the rocker arm shaft and rocker n blockleading to the assemblies eliminated from the lubricating system, andwhich includes only quickly assembled and installed parts.

A further object is to provide a rocker arm lubricating system which`can be readily serviced, inspected and cleaned by merely disconnectingits easily reached, ex- -posed oil supply tubes and removing the rockerarm arent i() p f 3 ,544 EQ@ ,008

cover, without the use of any special tools and equipmentor appreciableloss of time for making the installation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lubricating system forthe rocker arm assemblies of an engine, having means therein foradjusting the flow of oil therethroughto obtain the desired ow throughthe system and to balance the flow to the various rocker arm assembliesin order to adequately lubricate all the assemblies without providing anexcessive amount to any one assembly or group of assemblies.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become `apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

lFIGURE l is a perspective view of an internal combusion engine havin-gmy rocker arm lubricating system installed thereon;

'FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional View of the engine shown inFIGURE 1, taken on line 2-2 of the latter ligure and showing the upperportion of a cylinder head and the rocker arm assemblies mountedthereon;

FIGURE 3 is a -vertical cross sectional view through a rocker armsupport `showing parts of the present lubrieating system installedthereon;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the oil galley assembly forming apart of the present rocker arm lubricating system, showing said assemblyconnected to an oil passage in the engine block, the latter being shownin cross section; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of a rocker arm assemblytaken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE l inparticular, numeral 10 designates an internal combustion engine of theV-8 type, the particular one shown being a Ford engine used in the 1959model, said engine briefly consisting of a block 12., intake manifold14, distributor 16, exhaust manifold 18, fuel pump 20, oil iilter 22,cylinder heads 24 and 2.6, and rocker arm covers 2S and 30 secured tocylinder heads 24- and 26, respectively. The present lubricating systemhas been installed on the engine shown in FIGURE l andy is designated bythe numeral 40 with lead lines directed to certain exposed portions ofthe system. The foregoing engine has been shown merely for the purposeof illustrating the present invention, which is adapted or can be.readily adapted to various other makes of internal combustion engines.

Since the internal combustion engine on which the present lubricatingsystem has been installed is conventional, the details of the engine notshown in FIGURE 1 will not be described herein, with the exception ofmentioning that the oil pump designated numeral 42. draws oil from theoil pan 44 secured to the bottom of the block, and delivers the oilthrough filter Z2 and thence through a system of passages in the engineblock, one of which is shown at numeral 46 in FIGURE 4. The passages inthe block are connected with a passage 50 in each cylinder head, whichin turn is connected to the rocker arm assemblies as shown in FIGURE 2of the drawings. Since the valve assemblies for each bank of the V-8engine are the salme, only the one shown mounted on cylinder head 24will be described in detail.

In the conventional engine, oil passes from passage 50 into passage 52of the rocker arm support 54, through a port 56 of rocker arm shaft 58into passage 59 thereof, from which it is discharged into the bearingsof the rocker arms 60 and 62 of each rocker arm assembly 64, 66, 68 and70, the oil passing `from the internal passage 59 of shaft SS throughports 72 and 74, to the bearings of rocker arms 60 and 62,lrespectively. The oil then passes vfrom the rocker arm bearings throughtwo passages 76 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 3,008,544 Y t s and 78, theformer discharging onto the connecting bearing S@ between the adjustmentscrew S2 of the rocker arm md push rod 24, and the latter passagedischarging onto the connection between the upper end of valve stem 86and the respective end of the rocker arm, the stem being urgedintoengagement with the rocker arm by spring The oil discharged throughpassages 76 and 7S hows Vthrough the lower portion of the rocker armchamber 9i) and returns to the oil pan through drain passage 92extending downwardly through the cylinder ead and engine block. An o-iloutlet tube (not shown) is normally provided on one of the rocker armassemblies, for example on the one indicated by numeral 70, in order topermit the excess oil to circulate through the lubricating system and bereturned promptly to the oil pan 44.

Since, as is shown in FIGURE 2, passage 50 is relatively small and passupwardly through the cylinder block and cylinder head through arelatively long circuitous route, it occasionally becomes blocked orseverely restricted by an accumulation of sludge therein or bydisalignment of passage sections in the engine block. When this takesplace, oil to the rocker arm assemblies 64, 66, 68 and 7) is completelycut off or severely restricted so that excessive wear occurs and therocker arm parts become noisy and inefcient or -fail entirely tooperate. In order to unblock the passages leading to and through thecylinder head, it is necessary to `disassemble the engine and locate theblocked area in order to remove the foreign matter and/or realign theparts of the passage so that the oil will again flow properly throughthe passages, thus performing a major and expensive overhaulingoperation.

The present invention overcomes this difliculty of inadequatelubrication without the necessity of the overhauling operation, and isso constructed and arranged that it can be readily installed on theengine without the use of any special tools or skilled mechanics. Thepresent lubricating device consists of a special spacer 100' secured tothe upper end of support 54 by bolt 162 and stud 164 extendingdownwardly through spacer 100 and support 54 into threaded holes incylinder head 24. Stud 104 is the same as bolt 162 in the portionextending downwardly through sup-port 54 into head 24, but has anextension 106 formed integrally therewith and projecting upwardlythrough cover 28. The entire upper end of stud 104 is threaded andreceives a nut 108 which is threaded downwardly thereon until it seatsfirmly against the gasket 110 and spacer 100. When nut 108 is tighteneddownwardly against gasket `110 and bolt 102 is tightened into head 24against gasket 112, spacer 100 is seated in a fluid-tight relationshipon a gasket 114, which in turn is pressed firmly against the upper sideof support 54. Extension 166 of stud 1414 has a longitudinally extendingpassage 116 communicating at its upper end with a tube 120i throughfixture 122, and communicating yat its lower end through port 123 with apassage 124 in the lower side of spacer 160. Passage 124 communicateswith passage 150 and therethrough with the passage in rocker arm shaft58, passage 124 being somewhat larger than stud 104, as shown `atnumeral 132, so that, when the stud is tightened in place, port 123 maybe in any circumferential position and still effectively connect passage116 with passage 130. In the conventional lubricating system, passage130 is connected with the overllow outlet land the excess oil deliveredto the rocker arm shaft flows upwardly through passage 13b and thencethrough an outlet tube (not shown). In the present system this ilow ofoil is reversed, the oil supplied through conduit 1211 passingdownwardly through passage 116 of extension 196 and passage 124 intopassage 130 and thence to the interior of rocker arm shaft 58. The oilafter entering the passage in rocker arm shaft 58 ows to the rocker armbearings, the connection bearing 841 between push rod 84 and adjustmentscrew 82, and valve stem 86 and the adjacent portion of the rocker arm,in the same manner as in the conventional system. Since the flow throughpassage 50 has been 4 t blocked, the entire source of lubrication forthe rocker arm assemblies is supplied through tube 120.

Tube 121) is connected to the main supply line of the originallubricating system through the oil galley assembly 141) consisting of anL-shaped adapter 142 connected at one end to oil passage 46 by apipe 144threadedly received in a threaded hole. 145, originally provided in theblock and normally closed by a plug or oil pressure gauge, Iandconnected on one side to a T-connection 146 by a valve 143. The originaloil pressure gauge 149 is preferably installed on the galley assembly onthe end of adapter 142 opposite pipe 144. The oil pressure and flow inthe present auxiliary or substitute system can be convenientlycontrolled -by adjusting valve 148 by the use of thumb screw 160.Connection 146 is, connected to rocker ann assembly lubricator 150 bytube 120 and to rocker arm assembly lubricator 152 by a tube 154.y

Since lubricators 150 and 152 are identical in construction andopera-tion only lubricator 150 has been described in detail herein.

After spacer has been secured in place by bolt 102, stud 104 and nut108, cover 28 is assembled and placed on .the cylinder head withprojection 106 extending upwardly through the hole normally provided forone of two original bolts 162 (shown in FIGURES l and 2) and a nut 164is threadedly tightened onto projection 106, pressing washer 166 firmlyagainst the adjacent portion of cover 2S and together with bolt 162,lirmly securing cover 28 in huid-tight position on head 2.4. It is thusseen that with the foregoing construction, both the connection of galleyassembly 140l and lubricators 150 and 152 are made using holes and/orthreads originally provided in the engine block, cover, head and rockerfarm supports, thus permitting the present device to be readilyinstalled on an engine in the field without any drilling or machiningoperations.

In the operation of the present rocker arm lubricating system, after theengine has been started, oil pumped into passage 46 in Iblock 12 passestherefrom through pipe 144, adapter 142, valve 148, connection 146, andthence through branch tubes 12() and 154 to lubricators 150 and 152,respectively. The oil pa-sses from the respective tulbes and 154downwardly through passage 116 in extension 106 into passage 124, andthence downwardly through passage into passage 59 in rocker arm shaft5S, from which it flows through the various ports previously describedto lubricate the rocker arm and connecting elements. While only oneembodiment off the present invention has been described in detailherein, various changes and modifications may be made in the presentlubricating system and the parts thereof without departing from thescope of the present invention.

I claim: t

1. A lubricating system vfor the rocker assemblies of an internalcombustion engine having two hollow rocker arm shafts, supportstherefor, each with two vertical holes therethrough for receiving boltsttor mounting said support on the engine and with `a downwardlyextending oil passage therein for delivering oil to the hollow interiorof the respective shaft, and covers for said assemblies, said systemcomprising a lubricating unit for the supports of each rocker arm shaft,each unit including a spacer on said support having two holescorresponding to the holes in said support and a passage communicatingat one end -With the passage in said support and `at the other end withone of the holes in said spacer, a bolt extending downwardly through theother hole in said spacer and support for securing said spacer onto saidsupport and said support onto the engine, a stud extending downwardlythrough said one hole and through the spacer for securing said spaceronto said support and said support onto the engine and projectingupwardly through said cover, a nut threaded onto said stud for`retaining said spacer on said support, a second nut on said stud forholding the cover in place over the assemblies,

said stud having a longitudinal passage therein extending from the upperend and communicating with the passage in said spacer, a galley assemblyhaving an inlet conduit for communicating with an oil pressure conduitin the engine and an outlet conduit, a valve in said outlet conduit, andtubular conduits connecting said outlet conduit with the passage in thestud of each unit.

2. A lubricating system for the rocker assemblies of an internalcombustion engine having `a hollow rocker arm shaft, a support thereforwith two vertical holes ltherethrough for receiving bolts for mountingsaid support on the engine and with a downwardly extending oil passagetherein for delivering oil to the hollow interior of said shaft, and acover for said assemblies, said system comprising a spacer onsaidsupport having two holes corresponding to the holes in said support anda passage communicating at one end with the passage in said support andat the other end with one of the holes in said spacer, a bolt extendingdownwardly through the other hole in said spacer and support `forsecuringsaid spacer onto said support and said support onto the engine,a stud extending downwardly through said one hole and through the spacerfor securing said lspacer onto said support and said support onto theengine and projecting upwardly through said cover, a nut threaded ontosaid stud for retaining said spacer on said support, a second nut onsaid stud for holding the cover in place over the assemblies, said studhaving a longitudinal passage therein extending from the upper end andcommunicating with the passage in said spacer, a galley assembly havingan inlet conduit for communicating with an oil pressure conduit in theengine and an outlet conduit, a valvein said outlet conduit, and atubular conduit connecting said outlet conduit with the passage in saidstud.

3. A lubricating device 4for the rocker assemblies of an internalcombustion engine having a hollow rocker arm shaft, a support thereforwith two vertical holes therethrough for receiving bolts for mountingsaid suppor-t on the engine and with a downwardly extending oil passagetherein for delivering oil to said shaft, and Ia cover for saidassemblies, said device comprisinga spacer on said support having twoholes corresponding to the holes in said support and `a passagecommunicating at one end with the passage in said support and at theother end with one of the holes in said spacer, a Ibolt extendingdownwardly through the other hole in said spacer and suport `forsecuring said spacer onto said support, a stud extending downwardlythrough said one hole and through the spacer for securing said spaceronto said support and projecting upwardly through said cover, a means onsaid stud for retaining said spacer on said support, a nut on said studfor holding the cover in place over the assem- Iblies, said stud havinga longitudinal pass-age therein extending from the upper end andcommunicating with the passage in said spacer, `a means having an inletconduit for communicating with an oil pressure conduit in the engineland an outlet conduit, and a tubular conduit connecting said outletconduit with the passage in said stud.

4. A lubricating device for the rocker assemblies of an internalcombustion engine having a rocker arm shaft, a support therefor with Vahole therethrough and Aa downwardly extending oil passage therein fordelivering oil to said shaft, and a cover for said assemblies, saiddevice comprising a spacer on said support having a hole corresponding.to the hole in said support and a passage cornmunicating with thepassage in said support, a stud extending downwardly through the hole insaid spacer into the support for securing said spacer onto said supportand projecting upwardly through said cover, a means on said stud forretaining said spacer on said support, a nut on said stud for holdingthe cover in place over the assemblies, said stud lhaving a longitudinalpassage therein extending from the upper end and communicating with thepassage in said spacer, a means having an inlet conduit forcommmunicating with an oil pressure conduit in the engine, and an outletconduit connecting said means with the passage in said Stud.

5. A lubricating device for therrocker assemblies of an internalcombustion engine having a rocker arm shaft and a support therefor witha hole therein and a downwardly extending oil passage therein fordelivering oil to said shaft, said device comprising a spacer on saidsupport having a hole corresponding to the hole in said support and apassage communicating with the passage 'in said support, a studextending downwardly through the hole in said spacer for securing saidspacer onto said support, a means on said stud lfor retaining saidspacer on said support, said stud having a longitudinal passage thereinextending from the upper end and communicating with the passage in saidspacer, a means having an inlet conduit for communicating with an oilpressure conduit in the engine, and an outlet conduit connecting saidmeans with the passage in said stud.

6. In a system for the rocker assemblies of an internal combustionengine having a hollow rocker ar-m shaft, a support therefor withvertical holes therethrough for receiving bolts for mounting saidsupport on the engine and with a downwardly extending oil passagetherein for delivering oil to said shaft and a cover for saidassemblies: a spacer on said support having holes corresponding to theholes in said support and a passage communicating at one end with thepassage in said support and at the other end with one of the holes insaid spacer, a bolt extending downwardly through the other hole in saidspacer and support for securing said spacer onto said support, a studextending downwardly through said one hole for securing said spacer ontosaid support `and projecting upwardly through said cover, a nut threadedonto said stud [for'retaining said spacer on said support, a second nuton said stud for holding the cover in place over the assemblies, saidstud having a longitudinal passage therein extending downwardly andcommunicating with the passage in said spacer, and means for supplyingoil to the passage in said stud.

7. In a lubricating device for the rocker assemblies of an internalcombustion engine having a rocker arm shaft and a support therefor witha hole therein and an oil fpassage therein for delivering oil to saidshaft: a spacer i communicating with the passage in said spacer, and ameans for supplying oil to the passage in said stud.

Wellman Dec. s, 1933 Roos Dec. 6, 1955

